Northern Ireland is facing an “undeniable crisis” after new figures showed almost 86,000 people were forced to wait more than 18 weeks for a first outpatient appointment, a former Health Minister has warned.

Michael McGimpsey hit out after Department of Health figures were published revealing a significant rise in waiting times for appointments and diagnostic services.

The statistics show that the number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for a first outpatient appointment at the end of June 2015 was 85,997 or 40.5% of the total number waiting. This is compared with 69,730 or 36.4% at the end of March 2015, and 20,852 or 14.3% waiting more than 18 weeks at the end of June 2014.

Figures for people waiting on diagnostic tests also showed a serious dip. The Department says the 2015/16 Ministerial target for diagnostic waiting times is that no patient should wait longer than nine weeks for a diagnostic test.

But their own figures show that of the 89,684 patients waiting for a diagnostic service in June, 30,061 or 33.5% had been waiting longer than nine weeks. They say that’s an increase of 30.6% compared to the previous quarter but more than twice the number waiting at the end of June 2014 which was 14,357.

Reacting to the news, Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey said there is “an undeniable crisis in our health service”.

Health minister Simon Hamilton (Image: Stephen Hamilton/Press Eye)

McGimpsey, who also sits on the Assembly Health Committee, added: “Core services such as cancer diagnostics and treatments are waning, general surgery and pain management are reporting worsening service provision, staff morale is collapsing and now it has been demonstrated once again that our hospital waiting lists are in absolute turmoil.

“Of the 373,000 people currently waiting, 212,000 of these are people who are waiting for their first outpatient appointment. These are 212,000 people who have been referred to a consultant or other specialists by their GP. The fact that the list has ballooned up from the 145,000 people waiting the same time last year is indicative of the scale of the crisis.

“The gravity of situation is even more significant when one considers how long people have been waiting. There is an official Government target that nobody should have to wait more than 18 weeks for a first outpatient appointment yet the latest figures show that 86,000 people, or 40%, have been waiting longer than this. These people often are waiting in pain, and no doubt such excessive delays in getting an appointment are causing huge emotional distress and worry.

“In addition in a leaked document the Health and Social Care Board has previously warned that ‘increased waiting times for assessment may result in delayed diagnosis of a serious or life-threatening condition with reduced likelihood of a successful outcome’, so I have no doubt these excessive delays are compromising the quality and safety of patient care.

“As every week and month passes the crisis in our NHS is becoming more obvious. I can see it through an increase with people coming to my office seeking help and I can hear it when I engage with medical staff working in our hospitals and in the community. Unfortunately however neither the latest Minister nor his senior officials have shown any determination to resolve any of the major problems.”

The Department says the total number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment at the end of June 2015 was 212,444, representing an increase of 10.8% or 20,667 compared to March 2015 when it was 191,777 and a 45.9% or 66,877 increase compared to June 2014 when it was 145,567.

Valerie Watts, the chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board, said she acknowledged the length of time some patients were having to wait was “unacceptable”.

She added: “Regrettably, the current financial challenges mean that waiting times will continue to deteriorate.

“This should be balanced with the fact that at the end of June 2015, approximately 40% of patients were waiting less than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, and 60% were waiting less than 18 weeks.”

Health Minister Simon Hamilton said he was disappointed at the increases in the number of people waiting to be seen.

He said he would continue to work with the health trusts to reduce waiting times.

But he said that would be challenging “within the constraints of the current financial position, particularly given the increasing number of referrals and necessary reduction in the use of the independent sector”.

He added: “Maintaining the safety of services for patients and clients will remain a priority.”